Black to move. How can Black stop White’s passed pawn? How should Black proceed?
8/4k1p1/P1p5/2NpK2p/1P3P2/2P3PP/3n4/8 b – – 0 1
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Black mates in 3:
1… Nf6+
2 Kf5 Kf7!
Now any White move is met by 3 … g6#.
Nf3+ and Kf7
Well, my first thought is that, to hold, black must stop the a-pawn, but it is easy to see that the direct approach, bringing the knight to b6 via c4 isn’t going to work:
1. …..Nc4
2. Kf5
Here, Kd4 is probably ok, too, but Kf5 is much more active (covers the key e6 square). With Kf5, white is threatening Kg6 and/or Kg5 in addition to the obvious a7 followed by a later Ne6 to Nc7 maneuver. Continuing:
2. …..Kf7
What is best for black now? I don’t really know, but I can’t imagine that losing the g-pawn and/or the h-pawn can possibly be drawish. With Kf7, black can meet Kg5 with g6 at least. Continuing:
3. a7
With the action on the kingside settled for a moment, white returns to his main advantage- the passed a-pawn. Continuing:
3. …..Nb6 (g6 4.Kg5 Nb6 5.Nd7+-)
4. Ne6
Threatens Nc7 followed by a8Q. Here, black can try g6 or Na8, but they both lose quickly:
4. …..Na8
5. Nd8 Ke8
6. Nc6 and I don’t see how black protects any of his remaining pawns. Or
4. …..g6
5. Ke5 Ke7 (Nc4+ 6.Kd4! Nb6 7.Nc7)
6. Nc7 and black loses his knight and the game.
Since black can’t stop the a-pawn, then, to hold, he must either find a repetition draw, or a mate. A mate isn’t completely out of the question as the white king, in the beginning postion, has only d4 and f5 to move to. So, the obvious first move is one that cuts off d4:
1. …..Nf3
And, even though I suffer from knight blindness, even I can see the mate coming:
2. Kf5 Kf7! and the white king is trapped on f5 and there is absolutely nothing he can do to prevent g6#. Can’t believe I didn’t spot this right off. I despise knights!
Clue: Black still wins, even if White has a rook on d4!
That is wicked! Is it from a real game?
A rather easy position. Even if the pawn were stopped black would lose with conventional moves.
This means by force a series of attacking moves, generally checks.
The first move then would be Nf3+ or Nc4+. Nc4+ does not work but Nc3+ does. Then one just needs to protect and block g6 and it’s mate in 3. So:
1. ………… Nf3+
2. Kf5 Kf7 (almost a ! but too easy for an exclamation point)
3. a7 or another … g6#.
Psyche/ anonymous
1. ….. Nf3+
2. Kf5 Kf7 threatens mate by g6.
I don’t see how to stop that.
1..Nf3+ 2. Kf5 Kf7 3. a7 g6#
1. Nc3+ Kc5
2. Kc7 and g6# next move.
greets, jan
1…Nf3+ 2.Kf5 Kf7 and 3…g6 mate
It seems easy.
1) … – Nc4+
2) Kf5 – Kf7
If
3) Nd7 – Nd6+
4) Ke5 – Nb5
If
3) Na4 – Nd6
4) Ke5 – Nb5
5) Nc3 – Nc7
Did I miss something?
1.Nd4+ Kf5 2. Kf7 and 3. g6#
After nf3 Black has white by the balls.
1…. Nf3+
2 Kf5 Kf7 followed by
3….. g6#